Camp Phoenix (Lincoln Arts Centre, AD - PR Invite)

 🌟 Camp Phoenix 🌟

8 February 2024  I  7:30pm  I  Lincoln Arts Centre  I  AD - PR Invite

★★★★★

After four years, the wildly innovative Zest Theatre make a triumphant return to the stage with their nationwide tour of Camp Phoenix, utilising the talents of local youth companies and professional performers. Having been very lucky to conduct an interview with some cast and crew (via Instagram), I had a approximate idea on the show's style. However totally removing any form of bias, nothing could have prepared me for the sheer honesty and sincerity this show displays. Such warm willingness to be open about life's challenges sent tons of goosebumps from beginning to end, and nearly even making me cry towards the finale! Everyone involved really captures the essence of what it means to be a young person in current climates; messages and morals that everyone can identify with.

Camp Phoenix follows Zia as they enter a residential with newfound campmates, providing a vast range of characters, equally loud and proud in showing off what makes them unique. David Carpenter portrays Zia across all venues, where I greatly admire the maturity he handles the role with, and the wavering emotional states that demonstrate the complexities young people face. Zia can be irritable, but Carpenter finds a solemn quality to his presentation, and becomes greatly likeable through the vulnerability on display.

Zest Theatre have curated the show so that each stop on the tour hands local youth performers to the stage, with the members of Lincoln College excelling in delivering this huge breadth of personalities. And this is exactly where the heart of Camp Phoenix lies. The level of genuinity from the cast is so pure, really enhancing this humanity. It might be the case that not every movement is polished to the extreme, or maybe a prop falls over, but these imperfections stop the theatre from being an 'illusion' of sorts. What we are seeing is a naturally diverse group of actors working terrifically as a collective to tell their stories with truth and vigour.

These series of performances have been developed through Zest's extensive research, asking over 600 kids their worries about growing up, and those aged 16+ to respond with their wisdoms. As a spritely and bubbly caretaker, Les (portrayed by Duane Gooden) is marvellous, so easy to treasure! Opening the show, he enacts a narrator styled role, where you immediately feel in the comfort of the company. Gooden also introduces the integrated audio descriptions into Katie Greenall's script, which I can't applaud enough for a huge step in accessibility in the arts for those who may be visually impaired. You would barely even notice it was there, I would champion this for many more productions to use! His interactions with the audience are delightful, really giving people a chance to get immersed in walkie talkie conversations, and even a great big Scavenger Hunt, remarkable fun all around!!

The boundaries between fiction and real life becomes blurred, and for college age students to drive such evocative words is mesmerising. I especially want to give credit to youth performer Jasmyne Wigfield's dialogue on their transgender experience growing up. The move away from the script and talk on matters personal to the actors really hits home, and the concept of reflecting children's worries growing up is at its most authentic. Especially considering the current political stance of such topics, I found Wigfield's discussion to be endlessly empowering.

I cannot stress enough how amazing Koko Brown's song writing skills are!! The same evening I went to sleep, the songs would not escape my head (in the best way possible!). They have an irresistible hook that the Lincoln College performers harmonize so beautifully with!! And alongside Phao May's choreo direction, movement is cool, fresh and modern, nothing too complex but the simplicity allows everyone to refine this united ensemble and it WORKS!! The overall musicality of Camp Phoenix is something impeccable I haven't seen in a long time!

Equally Ben Pacey's lighting design, Cailtin Mawhinney's set and Guy Connelly's sound are delightful in simulating this camp atmosphere. Colour theory is utilised in an exciting way to access emotional parallels, which especially for younger audiences is a brilliant way of connecting. There are some phenomenally clever moments (without giving to much away!) involving silhouette work, obstacle courses and countdowns, every single element working together in perfect junction to ensure the show is the absolute best it can be!

Directed by Zest Theatre's Toby Ealden, I could not possibly ask for anything more from Camp Phoenix! As Team Macaw rebel against the Tannoy (voiced by the wonderful Gillian Lees), we gain insight into humane bursts of weakness, demonstrating to not only kids, but adults too, that we are allowed to make mistakes. Life shouldn't be easy, but the relationships we make along the way are what truly matters. Writing this review, the themes present leave me constantly thinking back to how important Camp Phoenix is, for absolutely anyone. I wish the remainder of the tour so much luck, because these are conversations that need to happen.

You can listen to Camp Phoenix's incredible soundtrack here: https://open.spotify.com/album/4rLODYGatwrNhLkXqRHrlB?si=DRE2lW0oRt-0WIYZ3JEh7g

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